Submersible vehicle

ABSTRACT

A high speed marine vehicle which has a hydrodynamically balanced hull capable of being submerged with a first propulsion system for high speed surface operation, a second propulsion system for underwater propulsion and maneuvering, and a number of releasable hermetically sealed high wall strength compartments. Each compartment may have appropriate controls for the operation of the vehicle.

i United States Patent Inventor James M. Schubert 2764 N.E. 14th St., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 33304 Appl. No. 798,319 Filed Feb. 11, 1969 Patented Aug. 10, 1971 SUBMERSIBLE VEHICLE 11 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

U.S.Cl. 114/16 Int. Cl. B633 8/00 FieldolSeu-eh 114/16, 16.7

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1943 Mead ll4/l6.7

2,806,441 9/1957 Hoke, Jr. 114/16 2,918,029 12/1959 Legat 114/16 3,388,683 6/1968 Barhite et a1. .1 114/] 6.7 X

Primary Examiner-Trygve M. Blix Attorneys-Ronald E. Barry and James E. Nilles ABSTRACT: A high speed marine vehicle which has a hydrodynamically balanced hull capable of being submerged with a first propulsion system for high speed surface operation, a second propulsion system for underwater propulsion and maneuvering, and a number of releasable hermetically sealed high wall strength compartments. Each compartment may have appropriate controls for the operation of the vehicle.

SUBMERSIBLE VEHICLE Submersible vehicles such as diving bells and submarines are used extensively for underwater exploration and work. These vehicles must be transported either under their own power which is quite slow or by some other surface going vehicle to the area where exploration or work is to be conducted. In conventional submarine construction the hull is large enough to accommodate a number of people and is constructed of heavy and strong materials to resist the stresses produced in the hull by the pressure of the surrounding water.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention disclosed herein provides a surface vehicle capable of high speed surface operation which is submersible for underwater operation. It does not require great wall strength because the occupants are housed in individually sealed capsules having walls of sufficient strength to withstand the pressure requirement. The capsules are releasable to allow the occupants to return to the surface in the event the vehicle is unable to reach the surface. Independent surface and underwater propulsion systems are provided in the vehicle. The underwater propulsion system is used to stabilize the vehicle while submerged and provides greater versatility in movement for underwater exploration.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the flowing detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top view partly broken away of the submersible vehicle.

FIG. 2 is a side view in section showing the individual capsules in the hull.

FIG. 3 is a detailed view in section of disconnected electrical connection for the capsule.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention which may be embodied in other specific structure. The scope of the invention is defined in the claims appended hereto.

The high speed submersible vehicle includes a hull l having a first propulsion system 12 to provide high speed surface operation and a second propulsion system 14 to propel the vehicle underwater. The occupants of the vehicle are housed in capsules or compartments 18 which are releasably secured to the hull to allow for the escape of the occupants from the vehicle in the event of a loss of control of the vehicle. The vehicle is controlled during surface operation by means of a rudder 20 and during underwater operation by the combination of the rudder 20 and the second propulsion system 14.

The hull 10 is made ofa low cost low strength material such as fiberglass, aluminum or other material and generally includes a bottom 24, a pair of sidewalls and a deck 26. The bottom 24 is shaped in the general manner of a standard planing or displacement type hull which provides little resistance to movement when riding high in the water. Sidewalls 25 and top wall 26 are designed to provide little resistance to movement when submerged and to balance any unwanted effects caused by the shape of the bottom 24, which is designed primarily for travel on the surface of the water.

High speed surface movement is provided by means of the first propulsion system 12 which includes a gasoline powered internal combustion engine positioned within a water tight compartment 27 and connectedto drive a propeller 28 projecting aft from the hull. An automatically closeable ventpipe 29 is provided through the deck 26 to supply air to the engine. A diesel or other type of power plant could, of course, be substituted for a gasoline engine. Control of the vehicle while moving on the surface of the water is provided by means of the rudder 20 controlled by a steering wheel 34 provided in the capsules 18. Hydraulic or electric actuators can be used to operate the rudder 20. I I

Underwater propulsion is provided means of the second propulsion system 14 which includes a plurality of fuel cells or batteries 36 positioned within watertight compartments and electrically connected to propulsion units 38 mounted on the sidewalls 25 through control levers 35 provided in the capsule 18. The propulsion units 38 are located in a position where they are normally above water level 39 where they will not interfere with the high speed operation of the hull. Each propulsion unit 38 includes an electric motor sealed within water tight housings and connected to drive propellers 40.

Means are provided to maneuver the vehicle underwater by varying the speed and attitude of each of the propulsion units 38. Each propulsion unit 38 is fastened to a shaft 42 mounted for rotation in the sidewalls 25 of the vehicle. The shafts 42 are rotated by means of scaled hydraulic motors or electric motors 44 mounted on the inside of the sidewalls 25. The motors 44 are controlled by means of control levers 37 provided in the capsule 18. By electrically adjusting the speed andadjusting the rotary position of the propulsion units 38, the vehicle may be made to rise, sink, move forward and backward, turn upon a vertical axis or roll upon a horizontal axis.

Each ofthe capsules 18 is formed in a cylindrical shape having a spherical bottom wall 46 which is seated in a base or pedestal 62 with a removable hatch 50 sealingly secured to the top of the capsule 18. Each of the capsules 18 projects through an opening 45 in the deck 26 and is made of transparent material for observation. Any high strength material such as metal, glass or plastic can be used to make the capsule with the working depth of the vehicle determining the strength required. Air is supplied to the capsule while submerged by conventional air supply tanks 52 provided in each of the capsules 18. A seat 54 is also provided in the capsule with an instrument panel 56 for any other equipment.

Means are provided to release the capsules 18 in the event of an emergency while submerged, which allows the capsules to float to the surface as a result of their own buoyancy. This means includes a number of explosive bolts 60 provided between the bottom wall 46 of the capsule and the base 62. The bolts 60 can be electrically detonated from within the capsule to release the capsules 18 from the hull. The capsules 18 are arranged to float in a generally vertical relation due to the location of the weight in the capsule. This allows the hatch cover to be opened once the capsule reaches the surface. A

Disconnect type fittings are used for all connections between the capsules l8 and the base 62 so that the capsules 18 can easily break free of the hull. These connections can be seen in FIG. 3 where the base 62 is shown with one of the electrical connections 63 shown in detail. Each connection includes an electrically conductive plug 65 secured to the bottom of the capsule and a receptacle 67 provided in the base. The plug 65 is sealed in the bottom of the capsule 18 by means ofa water tight seal 69. The receptacle 67 is provided with a resilient housing 71 having an inlet smaller than the plug 65 to provide a watertight seal.

Underwater stability of the vehicle is provided by means of trim tanks and 72 located fore and aft, respectively, within the hull. Appropriate controls for pressurizing or depressurizing the trim tanks are provided in the control panel 56 in the capsule and are connected through disconnectable connections to the trim tanks.

Means are provided to submerge the vehicle in the form of ports 74 provided in the sidewalls 25 which are opened to allow water to enter the hull. Air trapped within the hull escapes from the hull by means of a vent pipe 76 provided in the top wall 26. The hull is filled with water until it sinks below the surface and then controlled by the underwater propulsion system. The weight of the hull is balanced to provide stability when submerging and by proper use of the trim tanks 70 and 72, the vehicle will be maintained in a level position at all times.

When the vehicle is to be returned to the surface, the ports 74 are closed and the vehicle moved up to the surface by pressurizing the trim tanks 70 and 72 or by rotating the underwater propulsion units 38 to propel the vehicle to the surface. Once the vent pipe 76 projects above the water, means aretprovided to pump water from the hull in the form of high volume electrically driven pumps 78 connected to discharge pipes 79. After the hull has risen high enough in the water to start the first propulsion unit 12, high speed operation can be commenced and completion of bailing of water from the hull will be completed by means of a self-bailing pipe 80 mounted in the bottom wall 24.

I claim:

1, A high speed marine vehicle submersible for underwater exploration, said vehicle comprising a hull capable of high speed travel on the surface of the water,

means for propelling said hull at high speeds on the surface of the water,

means for propelling said vehicle underwater,

a hermetically sealed capsule,

means for releasably securing said capsule to said hull and means within said capsule for controlling said high speed and underwater propelling means.

2. A vehicle according to claim 1 including means for flooding said hull.

3. A vehicle according to claim 2 including means for bailing water from said hull.

4. A vehicle according to claim 1 wherein said underwater propelling means comprises hermetically sealed propulsion units pivotally mounted on each side of said hull, and including means for selectively rotating said units.

5. A high speed surface vehicle capable of being submerged for underwater exploration, said vehicle comprising,

an enclosed light weight hull having a surface capable of planing on the surface of the water,

a hermetically sealed compartment in said hull, means for releasably securing said compartment to said hull, means for propelling said hull at planing speeds, means for propelling said hull underwater, and means within said compartment for controlling said planing speed means and said underwater propelling means. 6. A marine vehicle comprising a floodable submersible hull having light weight low strength walls,

means for driving said hull at high speed on the surface of water, means for driving said hull underwater, a plurality of personnel capsules having high strength walls mounted in the hull, and means within at least one. of said capsules for controlling said high speed drive means and said underwater drive means. 7. A marine vehicle comprising a floodable submersible fiberglass hull having a planing surface, means for driving said hull at planing speed, means for driving said hull underwater, a plurality of personnel capsules with high strength walls releasably mounted in said hull means within one of said capsules for controlling both of said drive means, and separable electrical and control connections of said control capsule to said hull controlling means. 8. A marine vehicle according to claim 7 wherein each capsule includes a windowed portion exposed outside of said hull.

9. A marine vehicle according to claim 7, including means within each of said capsules for ejecting said capsules separately.

10. A surface vehicle capable of being submerged for underwater exploration, said vehicle comprising,

an enclosed light weight hull having a planing surface,

a number of hermetically sealed compartments in said hull, means for releasably securing said compartments to said hull,

means for propelling said hull at planing speeds,

means for propelling said hull underwater,

and means within one of said compartments for controlling said planing speed means and said underwater propelling means.

11. The vehicle according to claim 10 wherein each of said compartments is capable of carrying one or more persons. 

1. A high speed marine vehicle submersible for underwater exploration, said vehicle comprising a hull capable of high speed travel on the surface of the water, means for propelling said hull at high speeds on the surface of the water, means for propelling said vehicle underwater, a hermetically sealed capsule, means for releasably securing said capsule to said hull and means within said capsule for controlling said high speed and underwater propelling means.
 2. A vehicle according to claim 1 including means for flooding said hull.
 3. A vehicle according to claim 2 including means for bailing water from said hull.
 4. A vehicle according to claim 1 wherein said underwater propelling means comprises hermetically sealed propulsion units pivotally mounted on each side of said hull, and including means for selectively rotating said units.
 5. A high speed surface vehicle capable of being submerged for underwater exploration, said vehicle comprising, an enclosed light weight hull having a surface capable of planing on the surface of the water, a hermetically sealed compartment in said hull, means for releasably securing said compartment to said hull, means for propelling said hull at planing speeds, means for propelling said hull underwater, and means within said compartment for controlling said planing speed means and said underwater propelling means.
 6. A marine vehicle comprising a floodable submersible hull having light weight low strength walls, means for driving said hull at high speed on the surface of water, means for driving said hull underwater, a plurality of personnel capsules having high strength walls mounted in the hull, and means within at least one of said capsules for controlling said high speed drive means and said underwater drive means.
 7. A marine vehicle comprising a floodable submersible fiberglass hull having a planing surface, means for driving said hull at planing speed, means for driving said hull underwater, a plurality of personnel capsules with high strength walls releasably mounted in said hull, means within one of said capsules for controlling both of said drive means, and separable electrical and control connectors from the interior of said control capsule to said hull controlling meaNs.
 8. A marine vehicle according to claim 7 wherein each capsule includes a windowed portion exposed outside of said hull.
 9. A marine vehicle according to claim 7, including means within each of said capsules for ejecting said capsules separately.
 10. A surface vehicle capable of being submerged for underwater exploration, said vehicle comprising, an enclosed light weight hull having a planing surface, a number of hermetically sealed compartments in said hull, means for releasably securing said compartments to said hull, means for propelling said hull at planing speeds, means for propelling said hull underwater, and means within one of said compartments for controlling said planing speed means and said underwater propelling means.
 11. The vehicle according to claim 10 wherein each of said compartments is capable of carrying one or more persons. 